Stencil-cutting machine



April 26,v 1949. F. B. BROWN 2,468,540

STENCIL-CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1945 v 4 Sheets-Sheet l April 26, 1949. F. B. BROWN 2,468,540

STENCIL-CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

Frank E) brown April 26, 1949. F. B. BROWN STENCIL-CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1945 39 Frank B. Brown INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stencil-cutting machines.

The invention has particularly to do with a machine for cutting stencil cards, which are used for addressing publications, envelopes and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved stencil-cutting machine employing the usual key-operated stencil-cutting head, which is commonly mounted on a stand and the stencils out, by deprmsing the proper keys of the head; together with means for feeding the stencil cards in sequence, controlled by moving the stencilcutting head and timed so that the blank card is fed to the proper position under the head and the feeding operation suspended during the stencil cutting operation, whereby manual handling of the stencil cards is eliminated, the stencil cutting simplified, and the work more speedily performed than with the methods now in common use.

An important object of the invention is to provide a stencil-cutting machine of a relatively simple nature in which the parts are compactly arranged and also in which the entire operation is controlled by the actuation of a single element which is engaged by the stencil-cutting head and motivated upon forward and rearward movement of said head.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide an improved stencil-cutting machine which includes a conveyor for feeding cards in sequence therealong from a suitable magazine; together with a platen arranged to be automatically moved out of the path of the cards when an additional blank card is fed to the conveyor and to engage and support a blank card in stencil-cutting position when feeding is discontinued.

Another object of the invention is to provide a common mechanism for actuating the platen and feeding the cards, synchronized so as to alternately perform the feeding and platen actuating operations, thus automatically requiring the complete stenciling of a card and a rearward movement of the stencil-cutting head before another card can be fed from the magazine and the feeding operation resumed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a continuously operating prime mover having a clutch for engaging and disengaging actuating means having elements correlated to operate the platen and the card feeding means in an orderly sequence during one complete cycle of operation, whereby, if desired, the prime movermay be continuously operated and the stencil cutting performed, by intermittent engaging and disengaging of the clutch.

Still another object of the invention is to provide moistening means associated with the platen so as to be moved into engagement with a card to be out immediately prior to the positioning of such card for stenciling; and moved out of the path of the cards when said cards are in transit.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an operating and timing means for a stencilcutting machine which includes a single shaft having thereon a plurality of cams set to perform sequent operations of the machine; together with clutch means arranged to impart a single complete revolution to said shaft and stop means for arresting the shaft after a single complete operation to prevent overthrow of said cams,

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a stencil-cutting machine constructed in accordance with the invention, with the cutting head in position to cut a stencil card,

Fig. 2 is an underside view of the same,

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a portion of the machine looking upwardly and rearwardly from the underside thereof,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of a portion of the machine showing the operating and timing mechanism,

Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed views illustrating two positions of the cams,

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the platen,

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the same,

Fig. 9, 10 and 11 are detailed views showing various positions of the clutch mechanism,

Fig. 12 is an isometrical view of the clutch control means, with portions illustrated in section,

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the elements shown in Fig. 12 with the keeper in engagement with the latch,

Fig. 14 is a similar view with the latch released from the keeper,

Fig. 15 is an isometrical view of the machine, the stencil-cutting head and the operating means being omitted,

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view including some of the elements shown in Fig. 15 and a portion of the operating means, the platen and moistener being in operating position, and

Fig. 17 is a similar view with the platen and the moistener in their inoperative position.

In the drawings, the numeral Ill designates the platform of an ordinary stencil-cutting machine, which is mounted on the usual stand II. The platform includes flanged side rails l3 on which the usual stencil-cutting head I2 is mounted to move forwardly and rearwardly. The platform extends forwardly of the stand "and is formed with a. pair of flat bed plates [9, attached along their outer edges to the rails l3 and spaced apart longitudinally of said platform. The inner longitudinal edges of these plates overlap the horizontal legs of longitudinal angle bars 46, :as is best shown in Fig. 4. The forwardends .of the angle bars abut a transverse'brace l8 (Figs. 2, 15, 16 and 17) which has its ends secure'dto'the rails l3 and upon the upper edge of which, the bed plates 19 are carried. The rear end ,of .the platform preferably terminatesra-t ;the rear end of the .stand M. Inorder to "fasten =the;platform on the stand, the .rails 13 aresecured to the cross members 14 of saidstandby screws 15 while the vertical flanges ,of the bars .1 6 aresecured to said cross members by screws I:l,-as is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This arrangement provides a'central space or gap extending longitudinally cfathe platform.

.As is clearly shownlin Fig. 4,-the horizontaljle s of ,the angle bars 16 projectinwardly from the ed es of the ed plates is, thus provid n supports for longitudinal tracks or conveyor .bars 20 which overhang the longitudinal space between the bars 16. .Along their inneropposite faces the tracks are formed with longitudinal channels .or grooves .21 f ,such depth .and height as to receive and support theendsof stencilcards (not shown), wherebya plurality .of cards, with their elongate side edges inlcontact, may-be freely slid forwardly.

.A vertical card magazine B is mounted n the tracks in themedial portion of the platform in and is formed of a pair of flanged .uprights 23,

spaced apart so that astack of blankstencilcards may be placed therein. vAt the bottoms .of the uprights, the tracks are cutout, above the channels 2|, to form gaps or slots 2|..so that the bottom card will rest upon the tracks in the cha n l .ither of and pllowing car s m y fe through said slots to the channels. In .order to feed or move the cards forwardly, .a notched shuttle 22 is slidably mounted in the .channels,

so that its jorward edge normally lies ,in rear of the bottom card. This shuttle plate is recipro cated and its forward movement is .slightlygreater than the width of the card, so that it will engage the rear edge of thebottom card .andmove said car-d ahead, sufiiciently to let the following card drop through the slots and freely come to rest in the channels, when the platereaches the end of itsgrearward stroke (iFigsm16 and 17).

After the machine has "been operated a few times, a plurality of cards, edge to edge, will fill the channels. As the operation is continued, the cards will 'be discharged, one ,ata time, andjall into a stacking box 24 attachedto the fr0nt.side of the cross brace l8. During their forward movement, the cards are cut by the stencil-cut.-

tinghea-d l2. It is desirable to moisten the membrane of each card immediately {before cutting, as is well known in this art.

In order to support the card while cuttin the stencil -I provide animpression support or platen C which includes a base plate 40 which is secured at its ends to rocker arms by means of screws (Fig. '7). The rocker arms have their forward ends adjacent said plate mounted on a transverse rock shaft 36 journaled in the bars I 5 adjacent the brace 18. The bottom of the base plate lies substantially flush with the lower edges of the arms and said plate ties the arms together (Figs. 2, 3, 16 and 17). A flanged rectangular box at! is supported :on the base plate between arms upon a plurality "of screws 47 threaded through said plate and secured by jam nuts 49 (Figs. 7 and 8). The upper ends of the screws-arepointed and engage in sumps 48 in the underside of said box. By using three screws in tripodal :arrangement (Figs. 2 and 3), the load .isequally distributed. In order to hold the box in position on the screws, a headed pin 42 extends lup lthrough the center of the base plate and has its upper end reduced and screwed into the bottom-pf therbox. n'zcoiled spring .6 {surrounds the pm :betweenzits heard and the ,plate, being -under suffioientyccmpressionwto:usge the pin downwardly.

A rectangular follower gplate (Figs. 7 and 8) is yieldably supported in the box by a broad leaf sp ngand an impression plate 50 of'Plexiglas or z-other suitable: material :is carried .aby the plate A4. The :ends of ithe plate Snare .reduced and en age under ,fiangesl43 of the box Al, whereby the upward l movementiof "the impression plate is limited, but it isufree .to .yieldedownwardly .to a limited extent. The impipssiongplatehasanarea ample .to support the stencil membrane of the stencil card.

v It .is desirable .to employ :a l-moistening device D .whichinoludesa water-receptacle 5| having a moisteningmember .134 partially immersed therein and projectin .slightlyaboye the receptacle (Figs. 16 .and .17) .A.dished.retaizring plate-51' is disposed transversely across the tracks 20 and secured thereto. This ;plate-;is .mounted over the moistening device and has .its bottom substantially flush with the .-upper .longitudinal edges of -,the.channels 2.l,,-so..-as.to sustain the .card when the moistening member 34 .is engaged with the underside of ,said --card. The platen .C and the moistenine-devicel) are spaced so that when one of the cards is brought over the support, thefollowing card will be positiqnfid .over said .device.

When the arms .35 warming-upward .to a. substantially horizontal position .(Eig. 16) the support and the denice D-will "bein operative pot on. By swinging the arms downwardly a shor dist nce, the impre sion support and moistenins device will beswune out of operat ve position (Fig. .17;) and thelcards .Amayanove .freely along the tracks thereoner. From the ioregong des ription, it be apparent that (by recinro ating the shutt plat .2 the lin of ar n the channels .21 willfhe moved forwardly and an additional card will ,fed from the magazine B'into the line. Then'byswinsin the arms .35 upwardly While the shuttle plate is idle and the line of cardsare stationary, the platen .C and moistening device ID are i-broug'ht into contact with a pair of cards. Thecardover the impression plate having been moist ned by a previ operation, the machine is in position .to cut the stencil.

Means for p r orminethe foregoing op rations must be properly timed to alternate the card feedin and stencil cuttin Operations and must be under the control .of the operator. While varus me hanisms vmay "be provided for this purpose, I have illustrated a compact and relatively simple mechanism including a motor 55 (preferably electric), a continuously revolving pulley 52 driven from the motor by an endless belt 54, a single actuating shaft 3|, carrying cams 32 and 39, and a clutch 53 for controlling the transmission of motion from the pulley to the shaft; together with a control crank journaled in the platform In and located in the path of the stencilcutting head I 2, so as to be actuated by rearward and forward movement of said head.

The pulley 52 constitutes a prime mover and a ratchet wheel 51, forming part of the clutch 53, is secured to its hub on its inner side. The shaft 3| is journaled in bearing collars 3| carried by depending hanger bars 29, secured at their upper ends to the bars l6 (Fig. 4) and inclined forwardly (Fig. 1). The cams 39 are fastened on the shaft so as to bear against the collars 3|. The rocker arms 35, which swing the elements C and D, have their rear ends 31 bent downwardly and carry rollers 38, which ride on the faces of the cams. As is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the arms are swung up and down as the cams are revolved by the shaft.

For reciprocating the shuttle plate '22, a rocker arm 25 is provided. This arm has its lower end made integral with a sleeve 21 mounted to rock on a cross bar 28 extending between the lower ends of the hanger bars 29 and secured thereto. The upper end of the arm is pivotally connected with a link 26, which in turn is pivoted to a lug 25' depending from the underside of the shuttle plate. Opposite the cam 32, a roller 33 is journalecl on the side of the arm so as to ride on the face of said cam. In order to hold the roller in engagement with the cam and thus assure reciprocation of the shuttle plate, a spring 3|] is coiled around the bar 28 with one end secured to the sleeve 21 and its opposite end attached to the adjacent hanger bar 29.

By observing Figs. 5, 6, 16 and 17, it is obvious that one complete revolution of the shaft 3| and the cams 32 and 39 will be sufficient to operate the shuttle plate 22 and swing the rocker arms 35 up and down and thus operate the platen C and moistening device D. The cams are positioned so that when the cams 39 are at their point of greatest throw, the cam 32 is at its point of least throw as is best shown in Fig. 5. In this position, the elements C and D are elevated in operative position and the shuttle plate is fully retracted (Fig. 16)

If the shaft 3| is stationary, then the elements 22, C and D and the stencil cards are stationary and the stencil-cutting head |2 may be operated to cut a stencil. When the shaft 3| is revolved, the cams will be swung so that the cam 32 upon reaching its point of greatest throw (Fig. 6) will have swung the rocker arm 25 to its extreme forward position, thus moving the shuttle plate forwardly (Fig. 17) whereby the line of cards will be advanced. When the cam 32 reaches the position shown in Fig. 6, the earns 39 will be at their points of least throw, whereby the rocker arms 35 and the elements C and D will be swung to their extreme downward position. The maximum throws of the cams 32 and the cam 39 being spaced substantially 90, it is obvious that they are timed to cause alternate advancing of the line of cards and raising of the platen C and moistening device D to operative position.

Due to the fact that only a moment will be required to advance the line of cards and feed an additional card from the magazine B, while a much longer period of time will be required to cut an address stencil, the clutch means 53 is employed. A clutch arm '59 is fastened on the shaft 3| at the inner side of the ratchet wheel 51, which latter is attached to the constantly revolving pulley 52, running loose on said shaft. When the shaft is stationary, the arm 59 extends upwardly at about an angle of 45, as is shown in Fig. 9. A pawl 58 has one end pivoted on the upper end of the arm; while its opposite end is engaged on the bill 62 of a depending latch hook 6|, whereby the pawl is held out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The pawl 58 is urged toward the ratchet teeth by a coiled spring 60 having its upper end attached to the swinging end of the pawl and its lower end secured to the hub of the arm 59. In order to hold the parts in this position and to prevent overthrow when the shaft 3| is revolved, a stop cam 15 is fastened on the projecting end of the shaft on the outer side of the right hand (Fig. 4) hanger bar 29. This collar is formed with a peripheral shoulder 8|] (Fig. 3) and a springpressed dog 16 pivoted on the bar has its lower end riding on the face of the stop cam in the path of the shoulder so as to catch behind said shoulder and prevent clockwise revolution of the cam and shaft. 3

By swinging the latch hook 6| forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 10, the pawl 58 is released, whereby the spring 60 pulls it into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 51. The wheel 51 being constantly revolved by the pulley 52 transmits motion to the shaft 3| through the pawl and arm 59, whereby the cams 32 and 39 are revolved. As will be hereinafter explained, the mechanism is arranged to swing the latch 6| back into the path of the pawl before the wheel 51 completes a single revolution as is shown in Fig. 11. Thus, When the pawl reaches the position shown in Fig. 9, it will catch on the bill 62 of the latch hook and be lifted out of engagement with the ratchet teeth and at the same time the dog 16 will drop behind the lug 86 of the stop cam 15.

One of the features of the invention is the latching mechanism which is best shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14. The upper end of the latch hook BI is pivoted to the rear end and on the outer side of an elongate block 63 depending from one of the angle bars l6. A forwardly extending latch 64 has its rear end pivoted to the latch hook 6|, just under the block. A coiled spring 68 has its forward end secured to the latch and its rear end secured to the underside of the block. This spring acts to pull the latch rearwardly and swing the latch hook 6| rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 10 to the positions shown in Figs. 9 and 11. To limit the rearward swing of the latch hook, a stop screw 1! is adjustably mounted in a finger 18 depending from the block (Fig. 12).

The forward end of the latch 64 is provided with a laterally directed hook bill 65. A horizontal swinging keeper B6 is fastened on the lower end of a crank shaft 69, journaled in the block and extending upwardly through the bar IS. The keeper is formed with a slot 61, directed inwardly from its outer end and is provided with a cam 8|, at the inner: end of said slot (Figs. 13 and 14). The latch 64 is engaged in the slot with its bill 65 extending forwardly and its shank resting against the cam 8|. By observing Figs.

13 and 14, it will be seen that the spring 68 alsoacts to hold the latch in contact with the cam.

The-"keeper has a coiled spring'l2 attachediat its rear end to the hub of the keeper and its forward end secured to the: underside of the forward end of the block 63. The springs 68 and 12, being under tension, oppose each other, whereby contacts between their related elements are maintained.

The crank shaft 59 extends above the track 28' and an inwardly and forwardly directed crank arm overhangs the track in the path of the head t2, so that when said head is moved rearwardly, the arm is engaged and the arm and crank shaft 59 are swung. This swinging of the crank arm swings the keeper 66 forwardly, whereby. the latch is swung forwardly and the latch hook 6! moved from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 10, which operates the clutch 53 and causes motion to be imparted to the shaft 3'! to operate the cams 32 and 39.

The stencil cutting head has means for advancing it on the rails I3 after each line is out in the membrane of the card A, but such means is not shown because it is in common use and forms no part of the invention. Usually four lines: can be cut and provision must be made to harmonize the operation of the machine with this step by step forward movement of the head.

When the keeper 66 starts its forward movement, the cam ill is hooked to the bill 65 as is' shown in Figs. 12 and 13;v however after a slight swing, which is sufiicient to release the pawl 58,

the cam unhooks from the bill 65 and may continue its forward swing as is best shown in Fig.

14. Thus after releasing the pawl 58, the latch hook E! is returned to the latching position (Fig. 10) by means of the spring 68, when the cam 8i unhooks from the bill 65. As the head advances forwardly, the crank arm it follows, due to the spring 12 and when the head disengages from said arm, the spring will return the keeper 66 to its normal position (Figs. 12 and 13). the rearward movement of the head I 2, a post! is mounted on the platform in and suitably secured in one of the bed plates IS. A stop screw 73 is horizontally mounted in the post so as to be engaged by the head, when the latter is'moved rearwardly. This prevents the head from swinging the crank arm m beyond the desired range.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1'. In combination with a platform and a stenoil-cutting head movable on said platform, a stencil card feeding and supporting apparatus including, an elongate conveyor adapted to progressively support a line of stencil cards, means for feeding cards to the conveyor, means for advancing the line of cards one at a time, a platen, means for swinging the platen into position to support a card to be stenciled, means for operating the card advancing means timed to operate alternately with the platen swinging means, a continuously operating prime mover, a clutch between the prime mover and said platen-swinging and card advancing means, and actuating means for the clutch in the path of the stencilcutting head adapted to be operated by said head.

2. The combination set forth in'claim 1 includ To limit mg, a stationary retaining plate overlying the conveyor, and a cardmoistener carried by the platen swinging means adaptedto be swung up wardly intoengagement with a card supported 1 by said conveyor beneath said retaining plate.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the platen swinging means and the card oper-' ating means include cam means actuated by thepr'ime mover, the clutch being interposed between the cam means and said prime power.

4. The combination set form in claim 1 including', separate cam means for operating the platen swinging means and the card operating means alternately, and a common actuator for the cam means connected to the prime mover by the clutch.

5. A stencil-cutting machine including, a sup-,

port having car'd tracks, a stencil-cutting head movable longitudinally along said tracks, a card magazine for feeding cards'to said tracks, means for moving said cards in sequence forwardly,

along" said tracks and causing. the discharge of a single card from the tracks at each operation, a platen movable upwardly and downwardly between said tracks, means for separately and alternately actuating the card moving means and the platen so as to move said platen downwardly upon forward movement of the cards, a clutch for controlling the operation of the actuating means, and an actuator for the clutch mounted on the supportin the path of the head so as to be operated by rearward movement of said head.

6. In a stencil-cutting machine, the'combination with a reciprocating card shuttle and aswingably mounted platen, of a pair of spaced cams for alternately operating the shuttle and swinging the pla'ten in timed relation, a common actuator for the earns, a prime mover, a clutch connected with the prime mover and the com'-' mon actuator, and an actuator for intermittently engaging the clutch.

7. A stencil-cutting machine including, a platform adapted to support a stencil-cutting. head movable thereon, a conveyor on the platform for Y progressively supporting a line of stencil cards,

a magazine for feeding stencil cards to the conveyor, a shuttle for advancing the cards along the conveyor, a rocker element for actuating the shuttle, a cam for displacing the rocker element, a constantly operating prime mover, means for revolving the cam, a clutch for controlling the transmission of motion from the prime mover to the cam revolving means, a platen movable by 7 said revolvingmeans into position to support a card to be stenciled, the platen being moved out of card-supporting position upon actuation of said shuttle, and means for intermittently actuating the clutch upon movement of the head relative to the platform;

8., A stencil cutting machine including, a platform adapted to support a stencil-cutting headm'ovable thereon, a conveyor on the platform for progressively supporting a line of stencil cards,

, a magazine for'feeding stencil cards to' the con- 9. A stencil-cutting machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein the clutch engaging means is automatically operated rearward upon movement rearward of the head relative to the platform.

10. A stencil-cutting machine including, a card feeding element, a platen, means for operating the card feeding element, means for moving the platen toward and from a card to be cut, a pulley, means for driving the pulley, a shaft on which said pulley is loosely mounted, a cam on the shaft for actuating the operating means, a second cam on said shaft for actuating the platen moving means, the cams being spaced arcuately so as to actuate said operating means and said platen moving means alternately in timed relation whereby said card feeding element is operated when said platen is swung away from a card to be out, and a clutch connected with said shaft and movable into and out of engagement with said pulley.

11. A stencil-cutting machine as set forth in claim 10, and a stop for arresting the shaft at the end of each revolution.

12. A stencil-cutting machine as set forth in claim 10 including, a latch for holding the clutch disengaged, and automatic means for releasing the latch.

13. As a sub-combination in a stencil-cutting machine, a clutch ratchet wheel, a spring-pressed pawl for engaging the wheel, a latch hook engageable with the pawl for holding it out of engagement with the wheel, a spring actuated latch connected with the latch hook, a keeper engaging the latch, and a crank shaft connected with the keeper for swinging the same so as to move said latch and swing said hook out of engagement with said pawl and permit momentary engagement of the pawl with the wheel, said latch being released upon continued swinging of said keeper so as to swing said hook into engagement with the pawl and disengage said pawl and wheel.

14. The sub-combination set forth in claim 13, and a cam carried by the keeper and engaging the latch for releasing said latch.

FRANK B. BROWN REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 758,091 Belknap Apr. 26, 1904 922,931 Dukes May 23, 1911 1,514,611 Geiger Nov. 11, 1924 ,5 1 Heaton July 10, 1928 

